On the run

The Rock ’n’ Roll San Diego Marathon and Half Marathon are returning to their historical past. The races will conclude at Petco Park on June 2, the first time the event has finished downtown since its 1998 debut.

Runners finished at SeaWorld the past three years.

“We’re bringing it back to its roots,” said Josh Furlow, vice president of event operations for the Competitor Group, which owns the event.

“But at the same time, this is about the runner’s experience. What we’re trying to do is make it the easiest experience for all our out-of-town travelers and in-town runners.”

The finish-line change will significantly alter the second half of both races.

“There’s going to be major improvement in terms of the runner’s experience on the marathon course,” Furlow said.

He said the courses will not be finalized “for a couple of weeks to a month.”

Paul Greer, director of the San Diego Track Club’s long-distance training programs, said runners had two main complaints about the SeaWorld finish: 1) long waits for the shuttle service; and 2) no comfortable place to relax in the concrete parking lot.

Furlow said that with the races finishing downtown near mass transportation sites, there will be no need for shuttle service.

As part of the event’s agreement with the Padres, Petco Park will be open and runners will be able to relax in the stands. Concession stands and bathrooms at the park will be open, too.

“The entire concourse becomes our beer garden,” Furlow said.

The races are expected to finish near the tailgate parking lot across from the trolley station.

Greer said he’s a big proponent of the new finish.

“I think it’s outstanding,” he said. “I think it’s very promising.”

For the past three years the marathon course circled Fiesta Island before closing at SeaWorld. Greer said runners complained about the Fiesta Island loop for multiple reasons.

“The road is slanted and a lot of runners developed knee pain,” he said.

Greer said seeing the finish line more than two miles away was a psychological challenge for runners.

“At 23 miles, all you want to do is finish the race,” he said. “It was almost as if the ghosts of the future were coming at you. You’re there (at the finish), but you’re not there.

“You could hear the people cheering, you could see it but you weren’t there yet. Mentally, it was difficult for a lot of runners.”

The Padres are scheduled to play the Toronto Blue Jays at Petco Park on June 2. The start time has not been determined, but it will be a night game to accommodate the marathon and half marathon.

Furlow said the Competitor Group has a multiyear agreement with the Padres to finish at Petco Park.

Last year’s races drew 24,850 runners. According to the San Diego State University sports MBA program, the event had a $72 million economic impact on the region.